A26-Uincsstir Pantling-. SatuiQay, January '25, T 997 HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Sixty-five representatives of the Pennsylvania dairy industry agreed at a meeting hoe on Janu ary 9 to support two task force intiatives that are designed to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry in Pennsylvania. Meeting as the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders, participants represented all segments of the dairy food industry including dairy farmers, processors, milk cooperatives and dealers, farm and dairy food service and supply companies, farm organizations, and dairy promotion groups. Legi slative, government, and educa tion interests also attended. Meeting chairman, Ralph Hef fner, said, “The mission of the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders is ‘to facilitate the viability and expansion of the dairy industry in Pennsylvania.’” A Core Leader ship Group, comprised of 11 rep resentatives of the industry. (Continued from Page A 25) new way to discover the Basic For mula Price for milk. “As the leading farm organiza tion for one of the top dairy states in the nation, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau will be strongly involved in this issue.” In addition, it was announced that Harold Curtis of Warren County, chairman of the PFB Dairy Advisory Committee, has called an emergency committee meeting to discuss the milk price crisis and to consider other avenues for improving milk prices for Pennsylvania dairymen. Petitioning PMMB Further, in Pennsylvania, the Stale Grange and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau both have called upon the Pennsylvania Milk Mark eting Board to hold a hearing on the level of the over-order pre mium it can make for producers. Both have stated that they are seeking to request the PMMB to not automatically eliminated a cur rent 30-cent premium in April, as is currently planned. That 30-cent premium was tacked on last fall because of the record-setting com and grain prices. Petitioning PMMB Further, in Pennsylvania, the ■ ..A.'. „.<■■■ LANCO CONCRETE WALLS, INC. • Agricultural • Commercial • Residential SCS APPROVED • QUALITY WORKMANSHIP • Retaining Walls • Manure Pits • Footers LAIMCO CONCRETE WALLS, INC. PO BOX 256, BirdJn-Hand, PA I 'SOS CONTACT Steve Petersham, Jr. (717)291-4585 ■ FAX (717)291-4686 Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders Move Forward With Task Force Initiatives received approval for the forma tion of two task forces: one titled “Economic Education Task Force” and a second called “Reg ulation Task Force.” The leading objectives of the Economic Education Task Force are: 1. To support and enhance a positive image of the stale dairy industry both internally and exter nally to consumers, communi ties, developers, support indus tries, regulatory agencies, and legislators; 2. To examine ways in which to enhance the competitive position of the dairy industry in Pennsylvania; 3. To enhance dairy farmers’ ability to provide a good income and lifestyle for the dairy farm family; and 4. To help set an environment in which dairy far mers view change as an opportunity. Dr. Ted Alter, interim dean of Penn State’s College of Agricul tural Sciences said, “Dairy farm profitability is critical not only to State Farm Organizations Want USDA To Continue Dairy Support Activities State Grange and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau both have called upon the Pennsylvania Milk Mark eting Board to hold a statewide hearing on the level of the over order premium it can make for producers. Both have stated that they are seeking to request the PMMB to not automatically eliminate a cur rent 30-cent over-order premium on April 30. as is currently scheduled. That 30-cent premium was tacked on to a SO-cent regular over-order premium last fall because of the record-setting com and grain prices. As it is, on top of the cheese price effects on the milk price, the premium would revert to SO cents from the current 80 cents' after April 30. The Grange is seeking as a mini mum a maintenance of that 80-ccnt premium. According to Shambaugh, the Grange sent a letter to O. Frank Dc Garcia, executive secretary of the PMMB, requesting a statewide hearing on the over-order premium. “We were concerned with the scheduled decrease on April 30 and with dairy prices at an all-time low, at least for the past 15 years, we felt a decrease in the over-order premium would be a disaster,” • Bunker Silos • Slatted Floor Deep Pits • Flatwork the individual farm family, but also to the greater community and state. All citizens have a stake in our rural and farm financial well being.” Co-chairs of the Economic Education Task Force are Dr. Mil ton Hallberg, interim Head of the Department of Agricultural Eco nomics and Rural Sociology at Penn State, and Donald Schriver, CEO of Milk Marketing Incorpor ated. Volunteers for this Task Force include: Carl Brown. F.M. Brown’s Feeds; Gary Dean. Puri na Mills; Robert Donaldson, Lebanon Valley National Bank; Jan Harding, PA Dairy Princess Program; William Hughes, Core Stales Bank; Dieter Krieg, editor of Farm Shine; John Ligo, dairyman; David Morrow, veter inarian; Betty Reibson, dairyman and county commissioner; Harold Shaulis, dairyman and Pennsylva nia Farm Bureau; Dave Slusser, Pennsylvania DHIA; and Bob Shambaugh said. “The dairy industry is in a crisis situation and anything the PMMB can do to alleviate the situation would be beneficial to Pennslvani a’s dairy farmers,” she said. The PFB has taken a similar stance. “Our fanners have already suf fered a $3.76 per hundredweight reduction in federal order prices since last October, with February’s prices expected to be further reduced by another 27 cents for a A LESSON WELL LEARNED... LANCASTER FARMING'S CLASSIFIED ADS GET RESULTS* Thomson, dairy farm director of MMI. Additional persons may be recruited to cany out the Task Force objectives. The- leading objectives of the Regulation Task Force include: 1. To conduct a full and comprehen sive review of the regulatory cli mate that currently affects the Pennsylvania dairy industry; and 2. To identify specific rules or reg ulations within the dairy industry that inhibit future growth or pre sent impediments to expanding the industry’s ability to effectively compete regionally and nationally. Co-chairs of the Regulation Task Force are Dr. John Becker, Professor of Ag Economics at Penn State, and Michael Suever, Marketing Executive for Atlantic Dairy Cooperative. Industry vol unteers for this task force include: James Dell, PDA; Earl Fink, PA Milk Dealers Assn.; Lewis Gard ner, fanner director of MMI; Tra- total reduction of $4.03 per hun dredweightor 27 percent of Octob er’s price,” stated the petition filed by the PFB. Its petition is seeking a hearing in early March. “It is imperative that the (PMMB) review its decision to reduce the premium level to SO cents for those months after April, in light of devastating reductions r CABLE SCRAPER SYSTEM FOR FREE STALL BARN Tired of scraping manure? If so, take a look at Houle Alley Scraper! No manpower to operate • Allows alleys to be scraped Frees tractor or skidsteer for more °^ en other jobs • Lowers maintenance & repair Reduces stress on cows costs Drive unit with SS Cable (H.D. Drive unit with chain also available) ___ Alley scraper is controlled by a multi-function |h clock which allows you to clean the barn continuously v^^^orafpresef Intervals— ‘ Call us today! We will be glad to show you a recent installation and quote you on a system for your barn. *We will design & install - Serving all the Mid-Atlantic* wmm FARM EQU'PMOT MANUFACTURER cey Jackson, PA Milk Marketing Board; John Nikoloff, Capital Associates: Jack Padley, Mid Am. Dairymen; Leri Sandman, Dairy Network Partnership: and Joel Rotz, PA Farm Bureau. The Pennsylvania Dairy Stake holders is an outgrowth of efforts by the dairy industry, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, to provide a uni fied voice in ensuring the future health of Pennsylvania’s largest agricultural industry. To date the organization has no formal structure. A committee of Philip Kimmel, Keystone Farm Credit; DuWayne Kutz, Sire Power, Earl Fink, PA Milk Dealers Assocation; Joe Graybcal, dairyman and Lancaster DHIA; and Gary Rickard, dairy man and President of Sire Power, has been named to study and recommend a formal structure. (Turn to Pago A 27) recently endured by Pennsylvania dairy formers in fluid milk prices,” the petition stated. “We believe an upward adjust ment from the SO-cents over-order level is vital to the welfare of our state’s dairy industry and will not place Pennsylvania marekts at ser ious risk of loss to out-of-state markets,” said Harold Curtis, chair of the PFB Dairy Advisory Committee. 16° Tilting Scraper with Folding ends (others available) Mid-Atlantic Agrisystems Oxford, PA 19363
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